Parenting Articles

rnThis summer, let’s help our kids enjoy their summer and sharpen their minds for the next school year. Many children consider summer a sacred, care-free, no homework zone. But slacking off the entire time can cause students to forget what they’ve learned and that puts them behind for the next school year. Often referred to as “summer brain drain”, according to the National Summer Learning Association in Baltimore, every fall many teachers find themselves re-teaching

When teachers impose “logical” and/or “natural” consequences on students, they are using their authority to impose a form of punishment. It matters not if the adult’s intention is to teach a lesson. Imposed punishments increase the likelihood that the student will feel punished by the adult. Anything that is done to another person prompts negative feelings of reluctance, resistance, resentment, and sometimes even rebellion and retaliation. In addition, when authority is used to impose, it deprives the student of an opportunity to become more responsible.

Starting school is a huge change, and some children cope with change better than others (parents too!) But what are the signs that your child is ready for school? These are the factors to consider if your child is ready for school. CHILDREN MAY BE READY WHEN THEY: Have reasonable control over their behavior and emotions. Can hold his pencil correctlyr Can write her namer Can dress himselfr Can hop, jump, and skipr Can cut out neatlyr Can draw shapesr Knows her numbersr Can cope when minor things go wrong. Can talk confidently to adults, ask for help and express their feelings.r

All parents worry about their child's future. Many of us wonder what our children will be like when they grow up. Will they go to college, join the military, find a good job and be financially independent? Will they have healthy relationships and become parents themselves?

Does this article title turn you on? No, I don’t mean in that way. I mean does it stir something up inside you that makes you want to jump up and shout “YES!” You aren’t alone. We are all looking for that muse that can inspire more creative juices into our work and relationships. We all want to ...

There are many different levels of connecting. When you call out to your child from another room you are not yet connected, you are just putting out what I will term a location finder signal. By the second and third times when you don't get a response, your frustration is rising. You are in reaction mode. Why weren't you getting a response? Possibly your child's music or television are too loud for you to be heard. Perhaps your child is on the phone, on the computer, watching a video or totally absorbed in some activity. The reality is that you are not connected yet.

Are you having discipline problems with your children? If you are, scream free parenting is for you! Please pull up a chair and read along to find out if this is for you or not. If you're hear now, chances are you are not satisfied with the relationship you have with your children. If it's any consolation, a similar thing is happening to so many other folks as well. The economy is tight, and child grow up so fast. As a parent, it is so difficult to keep up with all of this.

It was Dr. Anthony P. Witham who once said "children spell love…T-I-M-E." He was definitely onto something. Unfortunately, if you are like most parents, time is a precious commodity that often eludes us. Whether we have a new job, a new baby, or we just need to make the coffee or strip the beds, we always seem to be wishing for more time. We need more. We want more. But we feel we just don't have it. Does that mean we don't love them? Of course not.

Although hostility seems easy to identify, describing it proves more problematic. The trouble looks to lie in distinguishing between suitable violent performance which can happen when persons are annoyed or irritated, and ferocity, which includes the use of bodily power and imposes damage or hurt any individual or possessions. Hostility can be upsetting or harmful to the receiver. The following are the different ways by Early Childhood Care & Education of showing a hostile co

Self harm is when someone decides to take out their problems toward themselves in a deliberate way. Some people may only ever self harm once in their lifetime but some people do continue throughout their life until they seek help to deal with their issues. Many people find it to be a way that helps them deal with problems and it becomes the norm when dealing with stress.

The parental journey has many paths, we as parents have walked down a few, sometime to turn around and say “that’s not my path”. The other thing that seems to happen is we walk down a path that resonates with us for awhile, and then seemingly abruptly, we look around and ask “Is this still the ...

Over the summer, my daughter turned 16, legal age to get her G1 and start learning to drive. Not something I have been looking forward to as I literally just finished cleaning being a driving instructor to my son in July when he passed his driving test. My daughter asked if she could write the test after her birthday and before school started up again. Although I was hesitant only for the reaso I have just mentioned, I agreed. She read the drivers handbook and tried the online tests about 6 or 7 times, which she tells me she passed each and every time.

I found myself doing the unthinkable the other day. I got out of the shower, looked at the clothes I had laid out for myself the night before, and then went straight for a sweatsuit. Fortunately, my oldest daughter, Kelsey, came in when I was getting dressed. "No, Mama," she said. "You are not going to go 'sweatsuit' on me."

This is an excerpt from Professor Paul Pilzer, author of "Unlimited Wealth" and "Other People's Money"...One of the questions I am frequently asked by parents, particularly parents who have succeeded themselves but didn't have the opportunity to go to college, is what subject their son or ...

So, your child has discovered a love for music that might one day fuel a successful, fulfilling career. But, aside from following the well-known paths of music teacher or performer, you’re not exactly sure how that love can translate into a paying job. After all, not everyone makes a career performing or teaching music . So how can those music lovers find a way to align their passion with their career? Fear not! Music education opens the door to far more job options than yo

Parent-coaching is about asking questions so that parents make up their own minds about how they would like to “be” with their children. So here are some great coaching questions to ask yourself to help you stay closely connected to your children. How would you like your relationship with your children to be? What changes do you need to make (if any) to get there? Here are some questions and ideas to consider. How can you show your children or teens more respect? When we r

I have always been astonished by the amazing abilities individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder have. Sometimes these gifts are hidden and I have to help parents dig for the treasure that lies within. Other times this extraordinary talent is obvious to all, which makes it easy for parents to nurture and cultivate. Then there is another scenario – one where this skill, this aptitude, is forever present and threatening to interfere with other aspects of daily life. Here is such a situation that was presented to me recently:

While saying “I love you” expresses how you feel to your child, when you’re able to clearly communicate your love in a tangible way that your child understands, there’s no chance your child will miss the message. Considering your child’s interactive style when showing expressions of love helps assure that your child, without a doubt, feels love, cared for and connected.

Do you feel your kids are spending too much time watching TV, playing video games and being on the computer? Do ever find it challenging to get them to turn off the TV or computer and go outside to play? If so, join the crowd! How much time are kids really spending with media? The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report in January 2010 showing the average amount of time kids 8 - 18 are spending with media. These are the numbers for a typical day: - TV (4 hours, 29 minutes) - Music/audio (2 hours, 31 minutes)

“When are we going to go again?” my oldest daughter always wants to know, “just nyou and me?” nnCassidy is five, and she shares a home with two younger siblings whose demands nfor my eye contact are constant and loud. So I try to norchestrate this one-on-one time with her on a somewhat regular basis. I ask nGrandma to watch the other kids so that we can sneak off together, and so she’ll ntalk to me. I’m always amazed, when I get one of the kids alone, by how very

“For what we have and what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly grateful.”n --Traditional grace before meals What does it mean to be truly grateful? On the one hand, gratitude may arise out of a feeling of obligation for a favor shown; on the other, gratitude may reflect a ...

Truth or Consequence By Diane J. Ackerma Children should respect their elders. Is this true? Ones first response might be, “Well of course it’s true!” However, if we were to think through this illusion we may discover that the reality is children do not respect their elders. And the sad but more than often truth is, our children don’t respect themselves, let alone their elders. What happened to trust? Have we inadvertently created a world of fear based families and communiti

Having a child with a disability is every parent's nightmare. Once you have heard the words, "Your child has Autism." the disappointment, anger and the feeling of isolation can leave you in shock. How long you remain there will be determined by how well you deal with your emotions.

Are you a parent or educator who believes the only effective way to straighten your kids out is to spank them? Do you realize that some kids who receive corporal punishment or physical abuse grow up to become abusers? Would you like to learn how to make your kids behave without inflicting physical pain and making them fear you or call the police? You are about to learn how to discipline your kids without spanking them. Make kids or students write sentences when they are naug

I did not know I was going to home school my children, but after years as a teacher and sending my children to school, I changed my mind. I love home schooling with my children, actually we unschool, which is a philosophy adopted from John Holt. Unschooling does not just apply to academic ...

Will a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder limit my emotional connection to my child? As parents we all want to cuddle, kiss and hold our children. Not only do they feel good to hold but they smell good too - most of the time. But what is a parent to do when their child pulls away from their touch, refuses to be embraced or won't hug back?

Most parents can hardly wait for their baby to say its first word. This usually happens between nine months and a year. From about two years, the child should be able to use simple phrases, and by three he should be able to use full sentences. By four, he should be fully able to talk, although he may still make grammatical errors. By five, he should have acquired basic language.nnThere is little doubt that language acquisition is one of the key milestones in early childhood d

Children try to express emotions that they cannot yet put into words in this form. Perhaps they are experimenting. Sometimes it is an act of defense. In another case it is an emotion of frustration. Here is what you can do in 3 easy steps to stop children from biting. 1. Avoid rewarding the misbehavior: If your child bites you, don't laugh even if it doesn't hurt, and don't give him any kind of positive reinforcement that could lead to his biting anyone else. 2. Reward Good behavior:

When babies have trouble sleeping, their parents do, too. And the effects of sleep deprivation can be extremely acute on one’s mental and physical health. A mother may lose up to 350 hours of sleep during her baby’s first year of life, resulting in irritability, added stress, and ...

As the heading says, people of all classes are capable of doing self harm. It doesn't matter what age, background or race you've come from, it still can happen. Even people, who appear to be successful in their lives, could do self harm. Let's take Victoria Pendleton for example. Victoria Pendleton, a British cyclist, is considered as one of the most successful woman and Olympian by having won three gold Olympic medals and nine world titles. Pretty impressive! But she admitted on having done self harm before when she was younger.

Not all depressions are the same and getting it right matters. Broadly speaking, depression can be divided into two types, exogenous and endogenous. This is not to say that any particular depression is necessarily one or the other. There can be factors of both at play and to different degrees.

There are many sectors in society which can help manage the prevention of self harm, these include; medical and health, media, education, support foundations and so on. This is why it is vital for the government to bring awareness to helping those who self harm through these sectors and more. By looking into the progress these sectors are making with self harm awareness we can determine where more attention is needed and what is working so far.

ABC Television recently imported a show from Great Britain called “Supe anny.” In this reality program British nanny Jo Frost enters a new household each week, observes the interaction of parents and children, and then teaches parents new ways of handling their little ones (see ...

Do you have a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that is just not interested in the holiday fanfare? Unfortunately, many children on the spectrum may be tuned out or just not interested in some or all that comes with the holidays.

Praise can be very powerful when used correctly. Here are three easy tips to help parents implement praise in a way that motivates children with ADD and ADHD and boosts their self-esteem: 1. Be Genuine

Child Abuse, Children, Faith, Family, God, Happy, Health and Wellness, Hope, Inspiration, Love, Motivation, Parenting, Relationship, Spiritual, Spirituality, Success, Thoughts, Words, Writing There is No “I” in the Word Parentr In Family, From The Writers Desk, Gratefulness, Healing, Inner Voice, Inspirational, Love, Parenting, Personal Success, Self-Love, Spirituality, Truth on November 10, 2010 at 12:32 pm In my opinion, the words parenting and selflessness should be interc

There are good reasons why parents seek alte atives to saying “No” to their children. One is that saying “No” often makes some parents feel that that they are being too negative. If this is your parenting issue with “No”, try instead to inform your child of the reason why, and of what he can do instead for an outcome he wants. For instance, if your child asks for a cookie before bedtime, instead of saying, “No” you might briefly explain: “The sugar would keep you up. But if you stop asking for a cookie now you can have one tomorrow for sure.”

Our words are very powerful tools, especially with impressionable children. We need to pause and think before we give corrections and feedback on what our children are doing.nnCriticism Is PunitivennOur children judge themselves on the opinions we have of them. When we use harsh words, demeaning adjectives, or a sarcastic tone of voice, we literally strip a child’s core of self-confidence and make him less likely to try to please us.nnStudies have shown that verbal abuse is

Fertility or reproductive tourism is a form of medical tourism, but involves traveling to a foreign country for the sole purpose of fertility treatments. The treatment sought could be in-vitro fertilization (IVF), donor sperm insemination or the implantation of donor eggs. The drive behind fertility tourism is not just the anguish of infertility; legal and financial reasons are also present. According to an article on Medscape, "Seeking IVF Abroad: Medical Tourism for Inferti

Whenever I hear a parent shout "good girl" from across the room, I often wonder what message those words send to the child. Does it send the message that there is a time when she is bad? Does she think what makes her good at that very moment? Does she receive an empty message, not knowing exactly what "good" means? Does she think that if she doesn't perform to her mother's expectations she is valued less?

I hear you when you tell me you are busy. I understand the long list of items on your to do list that never seem to be crossed off even in spite of your best effort. I see the look of frustration on your face and feel your overwhelmed presence when you enter the room. I know you have one last thing you have to do, but here is what I am going to ask you to do, in this present moment, if only for a minute. I am going to ask you to stop, take a deep breath, and hear what is absolutely necessary for you to do in order to live a well balanced and healthy life.

I did not know I was going to home school my children, but after years as a teacher and sending my children to school, I changed my mind. I love home schooling with my children, actually we unschool, which is a philosophy adopted from John Holt. Unschooling does not just apply to academic ...

Potty training a normal, healthy child can propel any parent into a state of anxiety, overwhelm and exhaustion. Now let's consider what potty training is like for a parent when their child is on the Autism spectrum? A child with Autism may have sensory issues that get in the way or they may not even understand what it means to use the potty. Here are some things to consider when potty training a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to reduce the number of bathroom battles you encounter.

Students with ADD and ADHD often feel like the world is against them. Their parents express disappointment and frustration about their poor grades, lack of self-control and unfinished chores. Their teachers consistently nag them about their missing homework, interruptions and impulsive reactions during recess. Kids at school shun them because they are rough, unpredictable and don’t follow social norms. All this negativity weighs heavily on children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

Consciousness - It’s a big word. It’s an important word. And it’s creating quite a buzz lately; from Oprah’s book club pick of A New Earth – Awakening to your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle, to the exciting unfolding of history in the making as the momentum builds in one of the most incredible ...

It seems like only yesterday you were changing diapers and recording home movies of his first steps. Now your son is entering into a new phase, one that is threatening and difficult to navigate. He is becoming a teen, and these are the eight milestones you are going to witness along the way. He Is Thinking More Abstractly In the past your child’s thinking was rather juvenile and basic. Now he is starting to think less about ‘what’ and more about ‘why’. This is an ex

In a perfect world, all aspects of life would be enjoyable. You'd not only love your job, but you'd also have a pleasant home life. However, a stressful home life can hinder workplace productivity. Sometimes that stress involves children.

If you're not living out of your comfort zone once in a while, then you're not really living. The "uncomfortable zone" is where all the success stories are written. The comfort zone feels good; the uncomfortable zone feels like sliding downhill on sandpaper naked. It's rough, raw, and gritty, but it's the only path that will get you where you want to go in life.

To stop the disrespect you must build a strong backbone. Here are 5 strategies that will strengthen you, build character in your child, and get the respect you deserve. 1. Stay Calm When Your Johnny Is Insolent. Let's say your thirteen-year-old Johnny is changing from an easy-going child to becoming a rude teen when you ask him to clean up his mess in the kitchen. “Why don't you do it?” he sneers. “It's your kitchen.”

As a business, one can do well with wholesale baby clothes. There is a constant need for these items and the styles last over many seasons. This means one can pick up good bargains and sell at a good margin (that's the whole point, right?). But just purchasing a bunch of items from a supplier isn't the first step. It is important to plan your approach. You can make a good amount of money by selling baby clothes, but it requires a plan and good business sense. There is a lot o